A Westley Richards .470 Hand Detachable Lock Double Rifle. Engraved by Paul Lantuch.

When I had Paul Lantuch and Vince Crowley for supper last week, one of the conversations we had was around the time taken to engrave their respective .600 sidelock rifles. Vince was shaking his head at what Paul had achieved in the same time frame he was working on. When I showed him this rifle, that had also been completed in that time frame Vince shook his head even harder in amazement.

By Simon Clode

To be fair there are 2 very different styles engraving involved here, each engraver has a very different style and finish to their engraving. Later this will become apparent when I show Vince's latest work and the attention to polish and detail become evident all which is a very time consuming detail.

Tomorrow this rifle goes down to St Ledger for case colour hardening and once again the decision will have to be made 'colour on or colour off'. I always liked the deluxe R. B. Rodda rifles which were carved engraved and left with colour on, so I am possibly biased. We will judge when it gets back!

The rifle is a Westley Richards .500 3" NE hand detachable lock double rifle, 2 triggers, automatic selective ejectors, manual safe.

By Simon Clode

12 Comments

Byron Christie on June 29, 2016 at 12:53 am

My Heavens Simon, WR has really acheived a standard of excellence. I congratulate you for your vision and your craftsmen for their dedication to that excellence.

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- Simon Clode on June 29, 2016 at 1:37 am
  
  Thank you Byron we appreciate the support very much!
  
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Larry on June 29, 2016 at 2:03 pm

Absolutely stunning. Wonderful. I am sure the colored version will be exquisite. Though I fancy the gray negative space!!

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Vance Daigle on June 29, 2016 at 2:33 pm

Good Day Simon,

Sometimes words just aren't good enough to describe such beauty, you just have to tip your Stetson!!!!.....

In Christ
Vance,

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Clive Newman on June 29, 2016 at 7:35 pm

Absolutely stunning.
Simon you and the WR team are true world leaders.

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Matthew Schmidt on June 29, 2016 at 9:12 pm

Absolutely stunning, the space is filled with exquisite engraving without being vulgar. Fantastic design which still shows the gun as a hunting weapon, not just a canvas for a bulino engraving of something which has nothing to do with hunting.
Really well done.

Matt Schmidt.

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Neill on June 30, 2016 at 1:22 pm

I don't think I have ever seen such incredible engraving, it is mind blowing. The gunsmithing looks pretty fine as well I'd add!

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Lajos on June 30, 2016 at 3:17 pm

Ahhhhh! Just fell under my chair... must be photoshop... too good to be true!
There is a vote for NO colour here! Colours can be stunning like a Kodachrome or Autochrome, but at the end of the day nothing beat the B&W.
Cheers from Hungary, Lajos

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paul on June 30, 2016 at 10:45 pm

yes i say like black and white also ,,some of the greatest photos ever taken havent any color....paul

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- Simon Clode on June 30, 2016 at 11:31 pm
  
  I agree with the B&W photos but many fine guns do have case colour! The guns have to case colour hardened (We case colour all our guns, we don't use other cheaper heat treatment methods) This gives the benefit of seeing the rifle with colour and judging then!
  
  Simon
  
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jonathan tomlinson on July 1, 2016 at 8:42 am

Simon

Easy answer, make the customer a second rifle, one with and one without, best of both worlds.

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Chris A. on July 2, 2016 at 9:03 am

Another W. R. Masterpiece, another milestone for the history of gun making .... another legendary gun near to finish and delivery for the future centuries!!

C.A.

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